ISI training militants in Afghan for sabotage in Kashmir

Several pan-Islamist international terrorist groups in concert with the Pakistani Inter Service Intelligence are training militants in the Taliban-controlled areas of Afghanistan to carry out subversive activities in Jammu and Kashmir, says a home ministry report.

The report says terrorist groups like the "Harkat-Ul-Ansar, Lashkar Toiba and Markaz-Daawa Al-Arashad mobilise volunteers and funds for the so-called jehad in Kashmir.''

Harkat-Ul-Ansar is reported to be behind the abduction of four foreign tourists from Kashmir valley in 1995. The tourists are yet to be released.

As local militancy has waned, Pakistan is now relying on foreign mercenaries to create anarchy in the border state. This is evident from the large number of such mercenaries killed in the past six months in various encounters, the report points out.

It notes that militant attacks on security forces have reduced by 40 per cent, while it has increased on civilians. This demonstrates security forces have gained effective control over the situation; the militants are now trying to ''keep the people in a state of fear and terror through targetted as well as random killing of civilians.''

The report says the government is willing for dialogue and discussion with 'any person or group' ready to cooperate in the process of peace and normalcy in the state.

Dialogues have already commenced with militant leaders as well as former militants. Also, action has been initiated against All Party Hurriyat Conference leaders for receiving illegal funds and contributions from abroad. The ongoing investigation would be carried to its logical conclusion, the report states.

The government has sanctioned Rs 350 million towards a corpus fund for rehabilitating victims of terrorist violence. In addition, a separate package has been prepared for rehabilitating surrendered militants. Two battalions of the para-military forces will work exclusively to provide employment opportunities to them, the report says.

The government has already set up two centres -- at Raesi and Manasbal -- to train surrendered militants in various trades. The militants will be given a monthly stipend of Rs 1,500 during their training period (which is restricted to a maximum of eight months).

The ministry also promised to return the surrendered to their homes in the valley at the earliest. Necessary financial assistance would be provided.

An additional Rs 660 million has been made available to the state for providing accommodation and better drainage and sanitation facilities in the Jammu migrant camps.

After the announcement of the policy of surrender and rehabilitation on August 15, 1995, more than 1,099 armed youths have laid down arms.

The report further says the government has undertaken fencing and floodlighting the vulnerable border stretches in Punjab, Rajasthan and the Jammu sector. A total length of 1,171 kilometres of fencing and 1,204 kilometres of floodlighting have already been completed.

UNI